INTRODUCTION

Formic acid (HCO2H), also called methanoic acid,

the simplest of the carboxylic acids, used in
processing textiles and leather. Formic acid was first
isolated from certain ants and was named after the
Latin formica, meaning ―ant.‖ which are an organic
acids with a carbonyl (i.e., C = O) and hydroxyl (i.e., -
O-H) functional groups. The chemical formula of
formic acid is HCOOH or HCO2H and its molecular
structure is shown in Figure
 NATURAL OCCURRENCE

In nature, formic acid is found in most ants and in

stingless bees of the genus
Oxytrigona.Thewoodants from the genus Formica
can spray formic acid on their prey or to defend the
nest. Formic acid is anaturally occurring component
of the atmosphere primarily due to forest emissions
 HISTORY

Some alchemists and naturalists were aware that

ant hills give off an acidic vapor as early as the
15thcentury. The first person to describe the
isolation of this substance (by the distillation of
large numbers of ants) was the English naturalist
John Ray, in 1671.Ants secrete the formic acid for
attack and defense purposes. Formic acid was first
synthesized from hydrocyanic acid by the French
chemist Joseph Gay Lussac. In 1855Formic acid was
long considered a chemical compound of only
minor interest in the chemical industry. In the late
1960s, however, significant quantities became
available as a byproduct of aceticacid production. It
now finds increasing use as a preservative and
antibacterial in livestock feed.
 PROPERTIES

Formic acid is a colorless liquid having a pungent,

penetrating odor at room temperature, not unlike
the related acetic acid. It is miscible with water and
most polar organic solvents, and is somewhat
soluble in hydrocarbons. In hydrocarbons and in the
vapor phase, it consists of hydrogen-bonded dimers
rather than individual molecules. Owing to its
tendency to hydrogen-bond, gaseous formic acid
does not obey ,the ideal gas law. Solid formic acid,
which can exist in either of two polymorphs consists
of an effectively endless network of hydrogen-
bonded formic acid molecules Formic acid forms a
low-boiling azeotrope with water (22.4%). Liquid
formic acid tends to supercool.
 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

●Clear, colorless liquid with a pungent odor

●Corrosive to metals and tissue.
●Soluble in water with release of heatFormic acid
reacts exothermically with all bases both organic
and ino rganic.
●Reacts with active metal to form gaseous
hydrogen and metal sal.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
 USES
A major use of formic acid is as a preservative and
antibacterial agent in livestock Feed. it also allows
fermentation to occur quickly, and at a lower
temperature, reducing the loss of nutritional value.
Formic acid arrests certain decay processes and
causes the feed to retain its nutritive value longer,
and so it is widely used to preserve winter feed for
cattle. Formic acid is also significantly used in the
production of leather, including tanning and in
dyeing and finishing textiles because of its acidic
nature. Use as a coagulant in the production of
rubber Formic acid is also used in place of mineral
acids for various cleaning products Some formate
esters are artificial flavorings and perfumes Formic
acid can be used as a fuel cell (it can be used
directly in formic acid fuel cells and indirectly in
hydrogen fuel cells).